The complexities of the human race require many prisms to achieve a decent level of understanding. I’m a clinical psychologist. I respect science. I honor the efforts humans make to solve problems and explain mysteries. I know, I know. It’s become very rewarding to twist scientific inquiry into whatever shape suits our self-interests, but people, listen: We are playing increasingly dangerous games. Self-serving delusions eventually shatter. Repeating something over and over might make you rich in dollars and clicks, but it won’t make it true.

I have friends who are not psychologists. They are cowgirls, artists, bus drivers, carpenters, hot air balloon pilots, dancers, plumbers, and gardeners. These lucky folks may have less occasion to ponder the many ways human personalities become diseased, destructive, entrenched, frozen, or malignant. But ponder, we must.

Dr. Bossy Pants has no need to re-create the wheel in her own words. Because the esteemed folks at Mayo Clinic are excellent writers, I’m going to quote them extensively below. I hope it will be helpful in our quest to understand our species, and seek healing and wholeness, as we the people continue to strive to form a more perfect Union.

Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.

A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs. You may be generally unhappy and disappointed when you’re not given the special favors or admiration you believe you deserve. Others may not enjoy being around you, and you may find your relationships unfulfilling. …

If you have narcissistic personality disorder, you may come across as conceited, boastful or pretentious. You often monopolize conversations. You may belittle or look down on people you perceive as inferior. You may feel a sense of entitlement — and when you don’t receive special treatment, you may become impatient or angry. You may insist on having “the best” of everything — for instance, the best car, athletic club or medical care.

At the same time, you have trouble handling anything that may be perceived as criticism. You may have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation. To feel better, you may react with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make yourself appear superior. Or you may feel depressed and moody because you fall short of perfection.

DSM-5 criteria for narcissistic personality disorder include these features:

Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it

Exaggerating your achievements and talents

Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate

Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people

Requiring constant admiration

Having a sense of entitlement

Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations

Taking advantage of others to get what you want

Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others

Being envious of others and believing others envy you

Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner

Although some features of narcissistic personality disorder may seem like having confidence, it’s not the same. Narcissistic personality disorder crosses the border of healthy confidence into thinking so highly of yourself that you put yourself on a pedestal and value yourself more than you value others.

When to see a doctor

When you have narcissistic personality disorder, you may not want to think that anything could be wrong — doing so wouldn’t fit with your self-image of power and perfection. … (end of Mayo quote).

As a human community, striving to live responsibly and lovingly together on the astonishingly beautiful planet we’ve been given to care for, we need to put aside our narcissistic tendencies, even if they are not full-blown pathologies. That’s my opinion. And even though I’m bragging a bit here, it’s both an educated and prayer-informed opinion.